LEF finalists: Terry Richard

Richard was nearly three decades into a career as an instructor in the restaurant business when he decided to change gears and put his educational talents to use in the classroom. One of the biggest reasons for the change was Richard's feeling that there were not enough men teaching children in their earliest years.

"There are so many students who need a male role model to guide them through these impressive elementary years," Richard said when asked why he decided to become a teacher. "I love knowing that I am making a difference as I set out with a goal of reaching those students.

"I wanted to experience the thrill of guiding young minds and shaping them into becoming awesome individuals that will become our future leaders."

Now three years into his new career, Richard hasn't been disappointed. His daily rewards come from seeing students grasp new concepts. He's immensely proud of seeing a once-struggling student become the top Accelerated Reader in his grade, and leading a committee that decorated the school red in honor of UL's homecoming week. For him, students aren't just individuals - they are what Richard calls his "blessings."

"It is like I am going back through life through their young eyes, and I live in the moment instead of worrying about how the future will play out," he said in a questionnaire.

"It is so magical to see life through a child's eye, as they will only be this age once, and you get the chance to be in their lives."

Richard is still putting his restaurant background to use, saying that he always has at least two teaching strategies in mind so that he is able to work with all students, no matter their learning styles.

"Teaching is more than telling someone how to do something," he wrote.

"If you love seeing others learn in order to shape their future to a brighter world, then teaching is where you need to be. Teaching is the greatest profession where you have the ability to give a child what they need for a lifetime."

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LEF finalists: Terry Richard

Richard was nearly three decades into a career as an instructor in the restaurant business when he decided to change gears and put his educational talents to use in the classroom. One of the biggest